CHP notified of additional human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Guangdong
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of
Health (DH) was notified of an additional human case of avian influenza
A(H5N6) in Guangdong by the National Health and Family Planning
Commission today (March 15), and again urged the public to maintain
strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during
travel.

The case involves a woman aged 40 in Huizhou,
Guangdong. She developed fever and cough on February 20 and was admitted
to a hospital in Huizhou on February 22. She is now in critical
condition. Investigation revealed that the patient had visited live
poultry market before onset of symptoms.

From 2014 to date, a
total of 10 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) have been reported
by the Mainland health authorities.

"All novel influenza A
infections, including H5N6, are statutory notifiable infectious diseases
in Hong Kong," a spokesman for the CHP said.

"We will
remain vigilant and work closely with the World Health Organization and
relevant health authorities to monitor the latest developments," the
spokesman said.

The H5N6 virus is a reassortant of H5N1 and H6N6 that first emerged in the spring of 2014, and since then has generated a good deal of concern as
it has been reported in poultry flocks in China, Laos, and Vietnam.

The
extensive migration routes of wild birds may contribute to the
geographic spread of H5N6 AIVs and pose a risk to humans and susceptible
domesticated animals, and the H5N6 AIVs may spread from southern China
to northern China by wild birds. Additional surveillance is required to
better understand the threat of zoonotic transmission of AIVs.

It has already turned up in wild and migratory birds in Hong Kong (seeHong Kong: Magpie Robin Tests Positive For HPAI H5)several
times. Given the lack of wild bird surveillance and reporting out of
Mainland China, we don't really have a good feel for how rapidly the
virus might be spreading.

While
H7N9 and H5N1 have been the most worrisome avian flu viruses to
date, H5N6 is showing signs that it is getting its act together, and is definitely a
virus to watch.